Monday, August 31, 2026. Saint Raymond was born in Catalonia, Spain. He was delivered by a caesarean operation, taken from the womb of his mother after her death, hence his name non natus (not born). His well-educated father planned a career for his son at the royal court, but he felt drawn to religious life. Raymond spent his childhood tending sheep and would often pray at the nearby chapel. He joined the Mercedarians under Saint Peter Nolasco at Barcelona. He succeeded Peter as chief ransomer and went to Algeria to ransom slaves. Raymond remained as hostage for several slaves when his money ran out and was sentenced to be impaled when the governor learned that he had converted several Mohammedans. He suffered in captivity; legend states that the Moors bore a hole through his lips with a hot iron, and padlocked his mouth to prevent him from preaching. He was ransomed by his order and returned to Spain in 1239, was appointed Cardinal, and died. According to tradition, the local count, the friars, and the town all claimed his body. To resolve this dispute, the body was placed on a blind mule, which was let loose. Unguided, it went to the nearby country chapel where he had prayed in his youth. It was there that he was buried. Many miracles were attributed to him before and after his death. A padlock on his lips, representing a prayer request to end gossip and other sins of the tongue. Saint Raymond was a unique individual who survived many trials and tribulations; he managed to make unpleasant situations better, known as a miracle worker who could make sunshine out of a rainy day. (Maridol: My Morning Prayer)
EWTN Online Mass Presider Fr. John Paul Mary, MFVA
Good St. Raymond, filled with compassion and love for those who suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at thy feet and humbly beg to take the present affair which I recommend under your special protection. Vouchsafe to recommend it to the Blessed Virgin Mary and lay it before the Throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all, obtain for us the grace of Ester and my enabling children to faithfully support the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation and its objectives as our family’s way of taking up our CROSS and FOLLOW YOU so we come before You ready to take the path You have chosen for Ester and me without doubt nor hesitation. To follow Your Will is to discover my purpose, so I eagerly await Your message for me this morning. By Your Holy Spirit, may You move me throughout the day that I may realize Your presence in my surroundings, hear Your voice in my heart, and see You in the faces of my loved ones and the needy beneficiaries- the God in me sees the God in others — In the name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Lord, Ester and I pray of one day beholding our God face to Face, and with you and Blessed Mother Mary – “no one goes to Heaven alone” (Bishop Fultom J. Sheen). Good St. Raymond, pray for us and obtain our request. Good St. Raymond, pray for us and obtain our request. Good St. Raymond, pray for us and obtain our request – Jewish tradition repeats 3 times for credibility of an Oath to God. Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.
Santuario de San Antonio Parish Online Mass Presider Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM
WORD Today. Luke 4:16-30. Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Is this not the son of Joseph?” He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’” And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through them and went away.
Reflection. That day, in Nazareth, Jesus confronted His interlocutors with a choice about His identity and mission: Isn’t He a carpenter’s son who fakes a role for Himself, or is He truly the Messiah? Luke tells us that the Nazarenes failed to recognize the Lord’s anointed. They thought they knew Him too well, but their minds and hearts prevented them from doing so. Today. We too face this challenge by the words of Jesus; we too are called to recognize in Him the Son of God. But it may happen to us, as it did to His countrymen, to think that we already know everything about Him – grown up with Him, in the parish, and in a Catholic country. Do we recognize that He is the bearer of a proclamation of salvation? And do I believe in the Gospel (good news) of salvation? Then, only then, ‘will the year of grace’ be for me! (Pope Francis, Angelus, Jan. 2025)
Radyo Katipunan Online Mass Presider Fr. Presider Father Don Joseph Bulan, SJ
Dearest Lord, You came to proclaim good news to the poor, freedom to the captives, and healing to the brokenhearted. Help us to welcome Your Word with humble and open hearts. Teach us to trust that Your grace is for everyone. When we face rejection or difficulties, give us the strength to remain faithful and continue walking in Your path. Open our hearts to receive You and the message You have come to proclaim. May Your Spirit guide us each day, so that our words and actions may bring hope and healing. Jesus, we ask this of You. Amen.
Our Lady of the Impossible, grace those late in life but had more in life who tried to be their brothers’ keepers for those who have less in life – “Ester and I pray for your blessings to grace our children, and their children’s children, to wholeheartedly support The MCC FOUNDATION like the MONTINOLA-CUMAGUN CARE FOUNDATION OBJECTIVES: (1.) Special Children SPED, a child’s mind is the most precious thing to waste. (The motto of the American Negro College), and the Handicapped Senior Citizens – Physical Therapy. (2.) Financial Support for Diocesan priests and Grade School Teachers for the rural areas. (3.) Computer Start-up Education Tools for selected public schools and (4.) Selected Start-up Management and Financial Support for Small Businesses. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48. “The sin of the rich man was not that he did wrong things, but that he did nothing. (William Barclay, in Antonio G. Cumagun Autobiography Song of Myself Memoirs, Looking Back at Serendipity, 2002) Our Lady of the Impossible, “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection was left unaided. . .” Blessed Mother Mary, bless me with the grace of strength and courage to bear any hardship and suffering that may come my way in witnessing by sharing with others the joy of the Gospel – the good news of your kingdom of peace and justice through Ester and my founding the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation. Business Enterprises are not Legacy: It is the wake you leave, who you leave it to, and what you leave. Let your wake speak, not your name.
Ester and my state of health – vital stats are recorded by Ester’s everyday, 24 hr. PDNs.
Ester’s morning BP was 110/70. HR 65.O2sat 97%. Temp. 36.4
Last Night’s BP 120 /80. Hr. 71 O2sat 98%. Temp 36. 2
Tony’s morning BP was 110/70. HR 63. O2sat 98%.Temp 36.6
Last Night’s BP 110 /80. HR.68. O2sat 99%. Temp. 36.6
Beata John Paul 1, watch over Cristina C, Justice Jun’s state of health – surgical procedure/operations, and Ester’s health recovery from stomach adhesion, our autistic son John Paul’s (was baptized John Paul a decade before Cardinal Luciano of Milan took the regnal name of John Paul) Mental/emotional limitation, 57 years old, and my weakening 89-year-old body.
FOR THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED AND SOULS IN PURGATORY
In Memory of all those who left us. We remember you in the morning and at night. You are always with us. We pray for the souls in Purgatory.
Blessed Mother Mary, I bring to you for your intercession the souls of Amb. Manuel R. and Dolores G. Cumagun, Juana Cumagun, Annette Cumagun, Lina Beltran, Judge and Mrs. Dolores Cumagun, Gov. Primo & Magdalena H. Gaffud, Dr. Trino, Sr. & Angeles Montinola, Betty, Luie, Trino, Jr. Montinola, Bernardino, and Isabel Jalandoni. Dr. Terry Lirio-Montinola, Dr. & Mrs. Tomacruz, Akira Tsusaka, Boy Eugenio, Jesus Ibañez, Sen. Nene Pimentel, Santiago Ranada 111, Boysie Villavicensio, Patria Manuel, Dr. Mariano Laurel, Rene Datu, (Ateneo ’54 – Jimmy Ongpin, Atty. Ato Gonzales, Buddy Joaquin, Fr. Unson, Msgr. Tantoco, Atty. Art Alafriz, Robert Arevalo Ylagan, Maximo Abesamis, Jr., Jesse Paredes), Atty. C. Platon, Araceli Rivera, Rey Castañeda, Col. Tanseco, Dr. E Fores, Dr. J. Caedo, Christine Syjuco, Leni Panganiban, Raul Boncan, Atty. Spanky and Dolly Perez, Amb. Albert del Rosario, Nellie Valdez, Toti Herbosa, Tec Syjuco, AL, Umberto (Beck) Gonzales, and Rufo Colayco. Pray 7 Our Father and The Credo
No Monday Physical Therapy Because of Flood